Kok-Aral Dam

dam, Kazakhstan

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July 21, 2026

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The Kok-Aral Dam is a structure in Kazakhstan built to help stabilize the North Aral Sea. The Aral Sea, once the fourth-largest inland body of water globally, has drastically shrunk since the 1960s due to the diversion of its primary water sources, the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers, for irrigation. This shrinkage has led to severe environmental consequences, including increased salinity, loss of fish populations, and toxic dust storms. The Kok-Aral Dam, completed in 2005 with assistance from the World Bank, has helped preserve the northern portion of the Aral Sea, leading to some regional recovery. However, the southern part of the Aral Sea continues to diminish.123

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Aral Sea
Physiographic changes
… funded the construction of the Kok-Aral Dam (completed 2005) and projects along the Syr Darya that appeared to be preserving the northern portion of the sea. However, the southern portion—both the eastern and western lobes but most notably the eastern—continued to shrink, despite some inflow of water from the north.…
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… funded the construction of the Kok-Aral Dam (completed 2005) and projects along the Syr Darya that appeared to be preserving the northern portion of the sea. However, the southern portion—both the eastern and western lobes but most notably the eastern—continued to shrink, despite some inflow of water from the north.…
Read More